MEET OUR STUDENTS

Every student at the Village arrives with his/her special strengths and talents, but also with special needs and problems. Helping each child overcome the difficulties and obstacles in order to develop and achieve is a challenge which the Village staff readily and eagerly undertakes.

N was born in Israel, but raised in Germany where his father established a business. Unfortunately, N’s mother who suffered from mental illness succumbed to her death three years ago. Her death was traumatic both for N and for his father, whose business failed following his wife’s death, leaving him unemployed. N’s father feels he is unable to leave Germany and return to Israel because he has another son living in Germany who cannot leave and needs his support. But he wanted a better life for N who felt completely alone and abandoned after his mother’s death. So, N’s father brought him to Israel where he has grandparents who are warm and caring, but unable to care for N full-time.

Therefore, at the age of 12, when he entered the 7th grade, N came to live and study at the Village. The adjustment was not easy. N was hyperactive, a poor student and traumatized by the circumstances which led him to live at the Village. N is now in 9th grade – his 3rd year at the Village. Gradually, he has adjusted to Village life, has made friends, has calmed down considerably and has begun to improve in his studies. N loves basketball and is an outstanding player. This has been the key to his success. Through basketball, N is gradually developing a positive self image, is gaining confidence and has made friends and become accepted by his peers. 

A made aliyah with his parents and his grandfather from Russia when he was three years old. When A was five years old, his father was killed in a terrorist attack - leaving his mother widowed, alone and traumatized. They moved in with A’s grandfather who became A’s main support as his mother has not been able to function successfully since her husband’s tragic death. When, during this past summer, the grandfather was diagnosed with terminal cancer, it was decided to place A in the Village where he entered the 9th grade. A is intelligent but extremely sensitive and in need of psychological help. His academic achievement is far below the average student at the Village, but he was accepted without question because of his need to be in a protective environment such as the Village can offer. A has been accepted by his peers and has made friends – which is an important first step. His dream is to play the drums – and he is now studying in the Village Music Center. Perhaps this will give him the “push” that he needs to overcome his problems and improve his studies.

K made aliyah with her parents at the age of 9. Her parents divorced and her father returned to the Ukraine and there is no contact with him. K came to the Village in the 9th grade. She is an excellent student and an active participant in the Village extra-curricular activities. She is responsible and well-liked by her peers. It was only after she became close to her counselors and began to confide in them that it was realized that K’s mother had abused her repeatedly throughout her childhood and K fears her greatly. This Fall, K’s mother abruptly left Israel and returned to the Ukraine – leaving K alone in Israel with no relatives and no home – other than the Village. But, she still has a “hold” on K – calling her from the Ukraine and demanding money – which K has earned by working at the Village. K is now a senior at the Village. The support of her friends and the staff has enabled K to continue to perform successfully in every area. K knows that she can count on the Village to be her home – even as she will graduate and enter the I.D.F. in the coming year.

K lives in the town of Ofakim, where her family settled upon making aliyah from the Ukraine in 2009. K’s parents are divorced and there is no contact with the father who remained in the Ukraine. K has 2 younger brothers. Her mother has not been successful in learning Hebrew or in holding down a job. They are destitute. In desperation, K’s mother placed her in an ultra-Orthodox boarding school at the beginning of the academic year. K did not adjust there, and it was arranged for her to be transferred to the Village after the first month. K is in 10th grade and is slowly making the adjustment to Village life, is making friends and is starting both to concentrate on her studies and to become involved in extra-curricular activities.

E & M are Israeli-born brother and sister living in Jerusalem. Their parents are divorced and there is no contact with the father who is now married for the 3rd time. The children spent time with their mother in a shelter for battered women; their father was jailed for a period of time. Their mother is emotionally disturbed, unable to work and functions only minimally. She depends on the social services and neighborhood charities for food and clothing and is provided with a small apartment by welfare. E is in his 3rd year at the Village and is in the 9th grade. M is in her 2nd year at the Village and is in the 8th grade. Hopefully, their younger brother who is living at home with his mother will be able to come to the Village also next year, when he will enter the 7th grade. E had many problems when he entered the Village. There were several incidents of theft, but the incidents ceased as soon as E adjusted to life at the Village. He is an average student. M is an above-average student. Both E & M are very relieved and happy to be living at the Village. They visit their mother and brother on free weekends but are delighted to return to their “Village home” on Sunday mornings. The Village is providing them with a sense of security and well-being which they never had, and preparing them for a successful and independent future.